Rivalry Renewed: Novak, Stan Set For Grand Slam Encore

They say a sequel is seldom as good as the original, but Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka are doing their best to dispel that notion.

A rivalry that has gotten stronger with every passing battle, the Serbian and the Swiss are set to clash for the seventh time in a Grand Slam setting in Sunday’s US Open final. Djokovic owns their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 19-4, but the World No. 1’s sizeable lead is no reflection on the high intensity and drama that has consumed their encounters in recent years.

“I haven’t played Stan in some time now,” said Djokovic. “But he’s a big match player. He loves to play on the big stage against big players, because that’s when he elevates his level of performance in his game. He gets much better.”

“To play Novak, the No. 1 player, is always really challenging,” Wawrinka said. “But we’ve had some big matches together, especially in Grand Slams… Some amazing matches, for sure. The secret is simple: I have to play my best tennis, my best game. He’s the No. 1 player, an amazing fighter and an amazing player. Mentally, he’s a beast. It’s not easy to play him. I’m sure he’s going to bring his best tennis for the final.”

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Glance At The Finalists

To say that Djokovic and Wawrinka bring out the best in each other’s games on the biggest stages would be an understatement. Four of their past five major meetings have gone the distance, with the lone exception being the 2015 Roland Garros final, where Wawrinka exhibited a stunning shotmaking display to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires and dramatically deny Djokovic the career Grand Slam.

But it was two years prior, when Djokovic and Wawrinka took the court in a Round of 16 meeting at the 2013 Australian Open that the rivalry truly blossomed. An intense, high-octane battle from first ball to match point, Djokovic would prevail 12-10 in the fifth set after five hours. Wawrinka punctuated the fourth set with a forehand down the line after an outrageous rally and broke to open the decider, but Djokovic would draw level and eventually cap a 20-shot exchange with a backhand pass on his third match point.

Mutual admiration for the heroic performance was on display as both competitors collapsed into each other’s arms at the net. But that was just the beginning. Later that year, Wawrinka would reach his first major semi-final at the US Open and once again he and Djokovic would tangle for five riveting sets, with the Serbian eventually emerging.

“I think the matchup has always been interesting to see because the way we are playing,” Wawrinka added. “I’m trying to be aggressive. I can play really hard. He is an amazing defender. And also, [look back at] where we started. We started with a five-set match in Australia a few years ago. It was 12-10. I was maybe one of the only players who started to dominate in the first two sets and didn’t finish it. I was dominating the match.

“And then if you look, I played my first semi-final in a Grand Slam against him here that year and again it went five sets. So for sure the fact that we played some long matches and some crazy battles makes it something different.”

Grand Slam Finals (Open Era)

Djokovic reeled off a pair of straight-set victories at the BNP Paribas Masters and Barclays ATP World Tour Finals to conclude the 2013 season, but his surge of momentum would be short-lived. They once again squared off at the Australian Open, this time in the 2014 quarter-finals, and Wawrinka would announce his arrival. The Swiss stunned the Serbian 9-7 in the fifth set, en route to his first Grand Slam title. For Wawrinka, it was the moment that launched him from Top 20 threat to big title contender and catapulted the rivalry to seismic proportions.

“He’s such a powerful player,” Djokovic said to the assembled media following his semi-final victory over Gael Monfils on Friday. “He has a big serve and probably the best, most effective one-handed backhand in the world now. He can play it all. He has that variety in his game. He can be very dangerous for everybody.”

Djokovic exacted revenge on Wawrinka at Melbourne Park in 2015, prevailing 6-0 in the fifth set in the semi-finals, before succumbing in the Roland Garros championship. The World No. 1 would have the last word with wins at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Cincinnati and Paris. That was their last encounter and both are eager to renew the rivalry on Sunday in New York

“When you play Novak, the No. 1 player in the final of Grand Slam, it’s the biggest challenge you can have,” Wawrinka said. “I think it’s going to give me confidence to tell myself that I know I can do it, because I did it at the French Open final. He knows that I can play my best tennis in the final of Grand Slam. But it’s going to be a completely different match.

“I have enough confidence in myself that when I play my best level, I can beat him.”

Entering with a perfect 2-0 record in Grand Slam finals, Wawrinka is seeking his 15th title at the tour-level. The 31 year old is looking to become the fifth man in the Open Era to win two or more major singles crowns after turning 30, joining Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors.

Meanwhile, Djokovic is appearing in his 21st Grand Slam final, passing Rafael Nadal for solo second place on the Open Era list. He is vying for a 13th title, which would put him one behind Nadal and Pete Sampras. The top seed is well aware of what’s at stake.

“The last couple of matches [Wawrinka] is getting in the shape that is winning him big matches. I lost to him in the final of the French Open and I lost to him in quarter-finals of the Australian Open when he won, as well.

“So both of these Grand Slams he won against me on the way. I know right now he believes in himself more. He doesn’t get too stressed by the bigger occasion… I want to be able to put myself in position to fight for the trophy. My thoughts are on Sunday’s match.”